PBS program reminds us why we laughed at Kaye

Chris KaltenbachTHE BALTIMORE SUN

OK, the presents are all out of the way. Now, the important question: What's on TV?

"The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade" (10 a.m.-noon, WMAR, Channel 2) -- Live from sunny Florida, it's Mickey, Donald and who-knows-who-else (word has it that at least one person not exactly filled with Christmas spirit will be making an appearance -- a woman by the name of DeVil.) Plus, hear "Hakuna Matata" (from "The Lion King") and "Under the Sea" (from "The Little Mermaid") performed by the men whose voices made them famous. Hosts are Suzanne Somers and Jerry Van Dyke. ABC.

"The Nanny" (8 p.m.-8: 30 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- In a repeat from April, The Woman With the Most Irritating Voice in the World introduces her new boyfriend to Burt Bacharach (as himself) and Maxwell Sheffield (Charles Shaughnessy), who immediately cast him in their Broadway show -- taking him away from both Fran and the temple where he'd served as cantor. CBS.

"American Masters" (8 p.m.-9 p.m., MPT, Channels 22 and 67) -- Danny Kaye was, by all accounts, one of the nicest men who ever lived -- his work on behalf of children earned him respect and admiration the world over -- so much so that people sometimes forget about the talent that made the philanthropy possible. Harry Belafonte, Carl Reiner and Itzhak Perlman are among those reminding us here. PBS.

"Pearl" (8: 30 p.m.-9 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- This repeat from September introduces Professor Pynchon's brother (Billy Connolly), who's as earthy and blue-collar as Pynchon is lofty and snobbish. These two came from the same gene pool? CBS.

"The Christmas Box" (9 p.m.-11 p.m., WJZ, Channel 13) -- Maureen O'Hara came out of semi-retirement last year to star in this tale of a young couple who have Christ put back in their Christmas by an older woman whose house they share. Based on the kazillion-selling novelette by Richard Paul Evans (whose sequel, "Timepiece," got the TV-movie treatment Sunday). The main plot point is pretty obvious (co-star Richard Thomas spends much of the movie struggling to answer the question, "What was the first Christmas gift?"), but the actors manage to keep things interesting. CBS.

Cable

"Star Wars" (3 p.m.-5: 30 p.m.), "The Empire Strikes Back" (5: 30 p.m.-8 p.m.) and "Return of the Jedi" (8 p.m.-11 p.m., USA) -- May the Force by with you this Christmas Day ...